Processing value-ascertainable items

Abstract

Techniques are provided for allowing a merchant to process third party closed-loop instruments (such as gift cards) as if the closed-loop instruments were open-loop instruments. A customer provides card data of a third party gift card to a merchant, e.g., online or in a merchant store, for the purchase of one or more items provided by the merchant. The merchant sends the gift card data to an intermediary that deducts at least a portion of the balance of the gift card. The intermediary sends an offer for the gift card to the customer. If the customer accepts the offer, then the merchant applies the offer towards the total purchase price of the one or more items.

1 . A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 a system, operated by a third party, receiving an indication that a first party desires to purchase a first item from a second party using, at least partially, a value-ascertainable item for payment;   in response to the request, the system performing the steps of:
 determining a value of the value-ascertainable item, and 
 based on the value, providing an offer for the value-ascertainable item; 
   in response to acceptance of the offer, the system causing the value to be applied to the purchase of the first item;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the value-ascertainable item is a closed-loop stored-value instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 receiving the indication comprises receiving, over a network, card data associated with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   the closed-loop stored value instrument is issued by a fourth party that is different than the first, second, and third parties;   the second party is incapable of deducting balance from the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   determining a value of the value-ascertainable item comprises:
 determining a balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument, and 
 determining the value based on the balance; and 
   providing an offer for the value-ascertainable item comprises sending, over the network, to the second party, offer data that indicates the value, wherein the second party applies the value to the purchase of the first item.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the value is different than the balance of the stored-value instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the value is in a virtual currency. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after receiving the card data, the system performing the steps of:
 retrieving new card data that includes data that corresponds to an account that is recognized by the second party, wherein the account is associated with a second closed-loop stored-value instrument that is different than said closed-loop stored-value instrument;   sending a request to load an amount of monetary value onto the account, wherein the amount of monetary value includes at least a portion of the balance of said closed-loop stored-value instrument.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after receiving the card data, the system performing the steps of:
 generating a token that is associated with the card data;   sending the token to the second party without sending the card data; and   after sending the token to the second party, receiving, from the second party, the token in association with the purchase of the first item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument includes:
 sending, to the fourth party, a balance request to receive the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument; and   receiving, from the fourth party and in response to the balance request, balance data that indicates the balance.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument includes:
 the system sending, to a publicly available website of the fourth party, a request for a first webpage;   in response to receiving the first webpage from the website of the fourth party, the system parsing the first webpage to automatically identify one or more fields within the web page;   the system entering the card data into the one or more fields contained within the first webpage and submitting the filled-in webpage to the website of the fourth party;   after causing the card data to be submitted to the website of the fourth party, receiving, from the website of the fourth party, a second webpage that includes balance data that indicates the balance; and   in response to receiving the second webpage, the system parsing the second webpage to automatically extract the balance data from the second webpage.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after receiving the card data, the system performing the steps of sending, to the fourth party:
 (a) a lock request to lock the closed-loop stored-value instrument in order to prevent further deductions of the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument and receiving, from the fourth party and in response to the lock request, a response that indicates that the closed-loop stored-value instrument is locked; or   (b) a zero balance request to zero the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument and receiving, from the fourth party and in response to the zero balance request, a response that indicates that the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument is zero.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after acceptance of the offer, the system performing the steps of:
 sending, to the fourth party, a redemption request to redeem the closed-loop stored-value instrument by withdrawing the monetary value represented by the balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument; and   receiving, from the fourth party and in response to the redemption request, a response that indicates that monetary value is withdrawn and is owned by the third party.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer is based on one or more of the following factors: whether the first party has registered with the third party, whether the first party has provided credit card information to the third party, the credit score of the first party, or whether the first party is known to be in possession of the value-ascertainable item. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer for the value-ascertainable item is non-monetary. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing an offer for the value-ascertainable item comprises providing a plurality of offers for the value-ascertainable item, the method further comprising receiving selection data that indicates that the first party selected one of the plurality of offers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each offer of the plurality of offers is associated with (a) a different value and (b) a different condition that must be satisfied in order to accept said each offer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing a plurality of offers comprises:
 providing a first offer for the value-ascertainable item;   after providing the first offer, receiving additional information about the first party;   in response to receiving the additional information about the first party, providing a second offer for the value-ascertainable item, wherein the value associated with the second offer is greater than the value associated with the first offer.   
     
     
         17 . A method performed by a first party, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 receiving, from a customer, card data associated with a closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a second party that is different than the first party;   wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is being used by the customer to complete a purchase of one or more items from the first party;   in response to receiving the card data:
 sending the card data over a network to a third party that is different than the first party and the second party; 
 wherein the first party is incapable of deducting balance from the closed-loop stored-value instrument; 
 receiving, from the third party, value data that indicates a value; 
 decreasing, based on the value, the amount required of the customer to complete the purchase of the one or more items; 
   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the value data is part of an offer, by the third party, for the stored-value represented by the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   the method further comprising, after receiving the value data:
 causing the offer to be presented to the customer, and 
 after causing the offer to be presented to the customer, receiving, from the customer, acceptance data that indicates whether the customer accepted the offer. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 after receiving the value data, receiving, from the third party, new card data associated with the first party;   wherein the new card data includes data that corresponds to an account that is recognized by the first party;   wherein the account is associated with a second closed-loop stored-value instrument and is associated with a balance;   wherein decreasing the amount required to complete the purchase of the one or more items includes decreasing, based on the value, the balance of the account.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the balance of the account is a first balance;   after the balance of the account is decreased, the account is associated with a second balance that is less than the first balance; and   the method further comprising sending, to the customer, at least a portion of the new card data.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 receiving the value data further comprises receiving, from the third party, a token that is associated with the card data; and   a plurality of subsequent communications with the third party regarding the purchase include the token in place of the card data.   
     
     
         22 . A method performed by a third party, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 receiving, from a user, first data that indicates a first closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a first party that is different than the third party;   determining, based on the first data, a first monetary value associated with the first closed-loop stored-value instrument;   sending, toward the user, data that indicates (a) at least a second closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a second party that is different than the first and third parties and (b) a balance of the second closed-loop stored-value instrument;   wherein second party is incapable of deducting balance from the first closed-loop stored-value instrument;   wherein first party is incapable of deducting balance from the second closed-loop stored-value instrument;   receiving, from the user, purchase data that indicates the user's intention to exchange the first closed-loop stored-value instrument for the second closed-loop stored-value instrument;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 prior to receiving the first data, sending, toward the user, merchant data that identifies a plurality of merchants;   wherein receiving the first data comprises receiving selection data that indicates a selection of a particular merchant of the plurality of merchants;   wherein the first party is the particular merchant.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 sending, toward the user, merchant data that identifies a plurality of merchants;   receiving, from the user, selection data that indicates a selection of a particular merchant of the plurality of merchants;   wherein the second party is the particular merchant.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising, prior to receiving the purchase data:
 sending, toward the user, exchange data that identifies a plurality of merchants an, for each of the plurality of merchants, a balance associated with said each merchant;   receiving, from the user, selection data that indicates a selection of a particular instrument of the plurality of closed-loop stored-value instruments.   wherein the particular closed-loop stored-value instrument is the second closed-loop stored-value instrument.   
     
     
         26 . A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 receiving, from a first party, card data that identifies a closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a second party that is different than the first party;   requesting and receiving a first webpage from a web server associated with the second party;   entering the card data into one or more text entry fields of the first webpage;   causing the card data to be submitted to the web server;   after causing the card data to be submitted to the web server, receiving, from the web server, a second webpage that includes balance data that indicates a current balance associated with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   identifying the balance data on the second webpage;   determining, based on the balance data, an offer for the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   sending the offer to the first party;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first party is one of a person who owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument, a pawn shop, an ATM, a kiosk, or a merchant that is unaffiliated with the first party. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising, prior to receiving the second webpage:
 analyzing the first webpage to identify a CAPTCHA challenge on the first webpage;   copying the CAPTCHA challenge and sending the CAPTCHA challenge to the first party;   receiving, from the first party, a response to the CAPTCHA challenge;   causing the response to be submitted to the web server.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the offer is for a particular amount, wherein the first party is a person that owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument, the method further comprising:
 receiving an indication that the person accepted the offer;   identifying an account of the first party that existed prior to receiving the card data, wherein the account has a particular balance;   increasing the particular balance of the account by the particular amount.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the offer is for a particular amount, the method further comprising:
 receiving acceptance data that indicates that the first party accepted the offer;   in response to receiving the acceptance data, determining a particular value and associating the particular value with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   presenting, to the first party, information that indicates the particular value;   after providing the particular value to the first party, receiving purchase data that indicates that the first party is attempting to purchase one or more items from a third party that is different than the first and second parties, wherein the purchase data includes the particular value;   in response to receiving the purchase data, using the particular value to identify the particular amount; and   causing the particular amount to be applied to the purchase of the one or more items.   
     
     
         31 . A method performed by a first party, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 determining that a webpage is about a particular merchant and is being displayed to a user, wherein the particular merchant is different than the first party;   to make an online purchase of one or more items from a second party that is different than the first party, wherein the online purchase is for a first amount;   in response to determining that the webpage is about the particular merchant and is being displayed to the user, identifying a closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by the particular merchant, wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument has a current balance that is positive;   causing a message to be displayed to the user, wherein the message indicates a discount opportunity if the user makes an purchase from the particular merchant;   receiving checkout data that indicates a particular amount that must be paid in order to purchase one or more items from the particular merchant;   providing an offer message to be displayed to the user, where in the offer message includes an offer that indicates that the particular amount can be reduced if the user accepts the offer;   receiving input that indicates that the user accepted the offer;   in response to receiving the input, applying the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount; and   receiving payment from the user as part of acceptance of the offer;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         32 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         33 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         34 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 3 . 
     
     
         35 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 4 . 
     
     
         36 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 5 . 
     
     
         37 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 6 . 
     
     
         38 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 7 . 
     
     
         39 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         40 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 9 . 
     
     
         41 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         42 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 11 . 
     
     
         43 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 12 . 
     
     
         44 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         45 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 14 . 
     
     
         46 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         47 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 16 . 
     
     
         48 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 17 . 
     
     
         49 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 18 . 
     
     
         50 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 19 . 
     
     
         51 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 20 . 
     
     
         52 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 21 . 
     
     
         53 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 22 . 
     
     
         54 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 23 . 
     
     
         55 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 24 . 
     
     
         56 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 25 . 
     
     
         57 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 26 . 
     
     
         58 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 27 . 
     
     
         59 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 28 . 
     
     
         60 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 29 . 
     
     
         61 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 30 . 
     
     
         62 . One or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the performance of the method recited in  claim 31 .